You may have seen ads about Dick Harpootlian.

The ads picture the flamboyant former SC Democratic Party chairman as a socialist follower of US Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Harpootlian has sued the SC Senate Republican Caucus to stop the ads.

He contends the Republicans are violating state law limiting donation amounts.

Harpootlian is a candidate for state Senate in District 20 in the Irmo area.

He is running against Republican Benjamin Dunn in the Nov. 6 election.

He believes the caucus has spent far more than $5,000 on Dunn, the legal limit for such donations.

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey who represents western Lexington County said he had been served with the lawsuit.

He said he understands why Harpootlian “wouldn’t want voters to know [he’s] comfortable with...democratic socialism.”